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Jane Velez-Mitchell
Jesse Matthew Now Wanted for Abduction; Wife Sticks by "Kissing Congressman"; Should Hope Solo be Penalized for Domestic Violence
Aired September 23, 2014 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If it had not been for the proper collection and preservation, it doesn`t matter how much someone does 13, 14 years later in
an investigation. If you don`t have the evidence, you don`t have a case.
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST: Tonight, breaking news in the disappearance of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham as a manhunt for the man last
seen with her rages on.
Any moment now, cops are set to hold a news conference. In fact, right at 7 p.m. They could be walking in at any second now. Do they have a major
break in this case? Will they reveal the results of forensic tests on items taken from the apartment of the man they`re seeking? What happened
to this beautiful young co-ed whose parents are absolutely devastated?
Good evening. I`m Jane Velez-Mitchell coming to you live.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Searching for missing Hannah Graham,
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Charlottesville police removed three bags of evidence in a second search of Jesse Matthew`s apartment.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His car was seen leaving the area on video. And we have every reason to believe that Ms. Graham was in that vehicle.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Police were tailing his Saturday. They say he took off at a dangerous speed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We still need to talk to him about Hannah, because he was the last one with her.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have no idea where he is. I hope he hears my voice, and I hope he comes to help us find Hannah.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Hannah Graham was last seen by her friends just before midnight ten days ago leaving a party alone on foot. Cops now believe that
about an hour after leaving her friends, Hannah met up with this man you`re about to see, 32-year-old Jesse Matthew. There he is.
Police say the two were seen having drinks at a Charlottesville, Virginia, restaurant moments before Hannah vanished into thin air. Cops say they
have every reason to believe that she got into his car. They haven`t called him a suspect, but they say the signs point to foul play in Hannah`s
disappearance.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIMOTHY LONGO, CHIEF OF CHARLOTTESVILLE POLICE: There`s no other way to look at it, quite frankly, at this point. There`s just no other
explanation but for that. I wish we knew more than that though. That`s why it is so critically important to talk to Jesse Matthew, because he is
the last person that we know of that saw her before her disappearance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. I want to show you right now that we`ve got a two-minute warning to this news conference. There is the podium. What are
police going to say? Police say that this man they`re seeking, Matthew, walked into the station Saturday, the police station. Asked for a lawyer,
got one, talked to him for about an hour, refused to talk to cops and then walked out the door of the station. And soon he was speeding away. He
actually lost the cops tailing him.
There`s now a warrant out for his arrest for reckless driving. The cops say he could be in a 1997 light blue Nissan Sentra similar to this one with
the plate VAC 4454.
Cops have gone back to his apartment twice, this time taking two bags of items, including clothing. They are doing forensic tests to see if
Hannah`s DNA, hair or blood turn up.
The news conference is starting right now. It looks like they`re going to be heading right in the podium. Let`s listen it.
LONGO: ... most convenient location for your work, for your trucks, but again, we appreciate you being here.
I want to begin my remarks, which will be very, very brief, by saying that our investigation is still ongoing. We still have some information that we
hope to receive in the next couple days that is related to our case. So I won`t take any of your questions tonight and I won`t go into any of these
additional details with regard to the information that we`re still waiting to get over the next few days, but will assure you that once we have that
information, we`ll be very forthright.
You know, we`ve been working very hard over the past almost nine days in relation to this case, and this afternoon we reached that point where the
commonwealth felt we had sufficient probable cause to seek an arrest warrant. So we appeared before a magistrate, Detective Sergeant Moody (ph)
did, late this afternoon, very late this afternoon, and obtained an arrest warrant for Jesse Leroy Matthew Jr. of Charlottesville, charging him with a
class 2 felony of abduction with the intent to defile.
Now I`ve learned just seconds before walking in here that a wanted poster has begun to circulate. It was our intention this evening to let you know
that that wanted poster, if it is not already in your hands, will be sent to you electronically. I`ve already given it to Miriam to make sure that
it gets out to you so that you can very promptly -- we would appreciate very promptly get that out so that folks here in the commonwealth and our
adjoining states around the country know that Mr. Matthew is wanted for this very serious offense.
I appreciate and anticipate your understanding that I`m not in a position to speak much further, because we`re still waiting on some additional stuff
that we have that`s pertaining to our case, and we want to make sure that when we begin to talk a little bit more about how we got to this point, I
can be a bit more transparent with you with respect to that.
I may never be in a position to talk to the specifics of the evidence, because we`re at that stage, critical stage in this process, where now we
begin, one, trying to locate Mr. Matthew. There`s state and federal resources that have been released and deployed to help accomplish that
task. And then between now and the time that this matter goes to trial, we need to be very sensitive about the information that we share to respect
and protect that process.
So I know this has been a very brief time. You`ve gone to a lot of effort for such a short period of time, but it`s important that we keep this to
the information that we are able to release tonight and assure you that, as we move forward, we`ll -- we`ll continue to share information with you.
It was important to me that you hear this information from me first. I`m disappointed that, in the last few minutes, that has not happened by virtue
of the fact that the poster is out there. But that being said, I respect that you`ll do your due diligence to get the information out there to your
audience so we can -- we can bring Mr. Matthew into custody and hopefully get his cooperation.
So again, thank you very much. We deeply, deeply appreciate your interest in this case. I know Hannah`s mom and dad deeply appreciate your interest
in this case and the manner in which you`ve respected them and you`ve respected these facts. Information still continues to come in, I believe,
as a result of the manner in which you`re covering this story.
So again, thank you, and we`ll be in touch shortly.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. The Charlottesville, Virginia, police chief, Tim Longo, holding a news conference. If he wasn`t a suspect before this,
Jesse Matthew is now.
The 32-year-old hospital worker now being sought no longer on this reckless driving, but now being sought for abduction with intent to defile.
Let`s go straight out to our Lion`s Den. Lisa Bloom, legal analyst, Avvo.com, I sense the frustration in the police chief`s voice, because this
is a man who walked into the police station on Saturday, demanded a lawyer, got one, talked to that lawyer, and then walked out of the police station
and then manages to lose the police tailing him.
And now they`re saying they believe he was the one who abducted Hannah Graham with the intent to defile. Certainly an ominous phrase. What do
you make of this news conference?
LISA BLOOM, LEGAL ANALYST, AVVO.COM: Well, this is certainly huge news, because now we`ve gone from a guy who engaged in very strange behavior --
walking into a police station and asking for a lawyer, and then speeding away -- but we`ve been saying he wasn`t a suspect.
Well, now he is a suspect. Not there`s a warrant issued for his arrest, for a class 2 felony, not just for abduction, but for abduction with the
intent to defile. With the intent to commit a sex crime against her.
And look, since she is still missing, we hope it`s not something even worse than that. So this is very big news. I think the police probably did not
have enough to arrest him at the time that he walked in. They probably did not have then the evidence that they have now. I certainly hope that they
didn`t, because if they did, and if he slipped right through their hands, they`re going to have some explaining to do.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, I don`t know about that. Because Brian Claypool, criminal defense attorney, they didn`t indicate -- correct me if I`m wrong
-- in this news conference, "We got the DNA back, and we`ve got a DNA match." They didn`t say anything beyond "We feel now," quite possibly
because the man is on the run for three days, "that we have enough to say that we believe he is the man who abducted Hannah Graham.
And so my question to you is: since they may not know much more than when they did when he walked in, should they have done something more to keep
him there, given the obvious fact that this person is the last person seen with Hannah before she vanished. The cops believe that she did get
into his vehicle. They said they have every reason to believe that. So why couldn`t they have held him more? I`ve heard material witness. I`ve
heard hold him for -- we`re still trying to find out how long legally they can hold there in Virginia before they have to file. Why didn`t they hold
him?
BRIAN CLAYPOOL, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Well, Jane, surprise, surprise. You`ve got a guy walking into a police station. He`s requesting a lawyer.
He doesn`t want to talk. He`s the last guy seen with Hannah, and you don`t do everything in your power to not let this guy leave the police station?
I don`t know what the time requirement is, but I know there were two prior arrests for this man, Matthews [SIC]. And why couldn`t they have issued a
warrant? There had to be a warrant issued for his arrest when he was in that police station.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: No.
CLAYPOOL: Why wasn`t he -- Jane.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Listen. There`s no -- no, he has no major criminal history. He has speeding tickets.
CLAYPOOL: But Jane -- Jane...
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I have to wonder why they didn`t anticipate he was going to speed away, because he has several speeding tickets, three speeding
tickets, my understanding. So you know...
CLAYPOOL: Jane, here`s another point, though. But even if you can`t arrest him for an outstanding warrant, why not sit down, try to engage the
guy, buy some time, buy some time, and then try to get a probable cause affidavit issued right away?
BLOOM: You can`t, though. You can`t -- he asked to speak to a lawyer. The police can`t talk to him after that point.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. Wait. Lisa, what are you saying? Or Steve Greenburg.
BLOOM: Hold on. Once somebody walks into a police station and says, "I want to speak to a lawyer," the police can`t engage him. They can`t ask
him questions. He`s invoked his right to counsel.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, Steve Greenburg, that`s we asked our panel leading up to this show. We said could this have been a brilliant strategic move
on his part and I believe it was you, Steve Greenburg, that said that was a dumb question. But is it? If, indeed, he walked into the police station
and said, "I want a lawyer," got a lawyer, talked to the lawyer and then waltzed out and disappeared, maybe it`s not such a dumb question.
STEVE GREENBERG, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I don`t think he walked into the police station just to walk into the police station. He knew they were
looking for him. He took care of protecting his rights so if they came and got him, he could say, "Hey, I`ve got a lawyer. You`ve got to go through
my lawyer." And he left. They didn`t have the goods at that point.
They can`t just say to somebody, like they used to on "Dragnet," "Don`t leave town." You know, it looks good on TV, but we don`t just hold people
because they were the last one seen with someone. The police need evidence.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. OK, guys. I`ve got to stop you for a second, because we`ve got an exclusive interview just coming in right now. Frances
Lee Vandel (ph). This is exclusive. She is -- this man whom they`re seeking for alleged abduction with intent to defile, Hannah Graham`s
landlady -- Frances? Frances? Hey, Frances? Are you there? I heard her click. We went to her very quickly. She`s gone. Why would she hang up?
All right.
CLAYPOOL: Hey, Jane -- Jane, can I make one more...
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Go ahead.
CLAYPOOL: Can I make one more comment? But even if they didn`t have the goods on this guy, why didn`t they follow him 24/7? They should have
surveillance watching this guy ever second once he left that jail. And that`s what I have a problem with.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, let me tell you, it`s absolutely a very good question.
I have to say, Areva Martin, I don`t want to second-guess cops. It`s not something that gives me enjoyment. I could never be a police officer. But
they had the information on this guy, because they went to his house on Friday, a day before he shows up at the police station. He shows up at the
police station. Then he takes off.
Couldn`t they have done something like gotten a warrant, knowing that he has a reputation for speeding, to put a GPS tracking device on his vehicle
if legally they can`t keep him, which some lawyers are debating? Then couldn`t they have at least done something to make sure they didn`t lose
him?
AREVA MARTIN, ATTORNEY: Well, at this point, Jane, we`re hearing that the police did not even believe he was a suspect in the crime. So just because
someone may have some information, the police bring them in, as Lisa said. Once he invoked his right to counsel, the police doesn`t have free reign to
trample on his constitutional rights. Now, he may have had information, but if they could not hold him as a suspect, they couldn`t do more. He had
a right to leave the police station, which he did.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I understand that, but couldn`t they have done something more to track -- well, what else did they know? I mean, everybody heard
the news conference. Did anybody hear them say that they have any new evidence?
I mean, they said, "We believe that we have sufficient cause -- sufficient probable cause, to seek an arrest warrant for Jesse Matthew, charging him
with alleged abduction with intent to defile." But we don`t know if that`s based on the forensics that they have gotten back or if it`s simply based
on the fact that the guy took off and has been missing for a few days.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But Jane -- Jane, we know. We know if they just make stuff up that...
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I`m sorry, Steve. What did you say?
GREENBERG: They can`t just make -- they can`t just make stuff up. And it sounds like when he was there earlier, they would have had to just make
stuff up. Then if they discover more evidence, that`s going to be thrown out by a judge, and the whole case collapses. So it`s easy to second
guess.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Vinny Parco.
MARTIN: And Jane, just that he sped off doesn`t make him -- doesn`t give them sufficient evidence to charge him with abduction, because he drove at
a high rate of speed. That`s not evidence of abducting someone.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. Private investigator Vinny Parco. Private investigator Vinny Parco.
VINNY PARCO, PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR: If they went to the house the day before, then in their mind, he was a suspect. I don`t know what they got
out of the house, but they got three bags. It must have had some forensic evidence on the clothes. It looked like clothes. And that`s why they got
an arrest warrant for the abduction.
BLOOM: And Jane, here`s...
PARCO: I think he`s right. They would -- they would blow the case if they arrested him prematurely and all the evidence might have been thrown out.
I think they should have held him on...
BLOOM: Here`s significant, Jane.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Go ahead, Lisa.
BLOOM: A police officer said in the press conference that information is going to be coming in the next few days. I think that`s going to be test
results. I think they took some information. Perhaps they got hair, fiber, saliva, other samples. It`s out for testing. The information that
they`re going to get in the next few days is probably going to be the results.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: so you`re disagreeing. Because Vinny`s saying in order to issue this arrest warrant, they had to have something more than, "Oh, he
took off." But you`re saying maybe they didn`t have anything more than he took off.
Listen, guys, we have to take a short break.
BLOOM: I`m going to take them at their word, that they have probable cause now, but clearly, they`re relying on something coming in in the next few
days that`s going to make the case even better.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: We`re got to take a very short break. We`re going to be back. The phone`s off the hook, people wanting to weigh in. And we`re
just getting started on the pieces of the puzzle. This is a race against time. Where is Hannah Graham?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We know that he purchased alcohol there and we know Hannah Graham was with him. Within 15 minutes, they were gone from that
bar and that his car was seen leaving the area on video. And we have every reason to believe that Ms. Graham was in that vehicle.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LONGO: This afternoon, we reached that point where the commonwealth felt we had sufficient probable cause to seek an arrest warrant, so we appeared
before a magistrate, Detective Sergeant Moody did, late this afternoon, very late this afternoon, and obtained an arrest warrant for Jesse Leroy
Matthew Jr. of Charlottesville, charging him with a Class 2 felony of abduction with the intent to defile.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Thirty-two-year-old Jess Matthew now one of the most sought-after men in the country. A nationwide manhunt. He would be
anywhere up and down the East Coast, or he could be on the West Coast by now. It`s been three days that this guy has been on the run. He clearly
felt police honing in on him. He took off Friday. Police got search warrants for his car and his apartment.
At some point Saturday, Matthew then changed his Facebook profile photo to a black box. Around the same time, he went into the police station and met
with a lawyer, talked to the lawyer, left without telling cops anything. They tried to tail him, and then he sped off and lost them, apparently with
his mother in the passenger seat. And the cops have been to his mother`s house since then.
Now police have just issued a warrant for his arrest, charging him with alleged abduction with intent to defile in the disappearance of Hannah
Graham.
I want to show the Facebook -- look at that. Look at his Facebook profile picture. Is that creepy? That`s your analysis of that, Lisa Bloom?
BLOOM: You know, I suppose he doesn`t want his picture out there, because he knows everybody is looking for him. Unfortunately for him, we have the
picture. You`re putting it up. Everybody is putting it up. Maybe he`s trying to show that he`s disappeared, that he`s gone from the face of the
earth, but I agree. It`s very creepy.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes, Vinny Parco, private investigator, what do you make of that? Putting up -- he didn`t just cancel his Facebook. He kept the
Facebook but changed the profile picture to a black box. Honestly, I got chills when I saw that.
PARCO: I think it`s ridiculous, because everybody in the world knows what he looks like now.
You know, one thing nobody mentioned about his car. He had a burnt orange vehicle. It was very distinctive. The police impounded that car. They
must have found something in that car that gave them probable cause, and then went into the house and probably found something else.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes, I`m sure.
CLAYPOOL: Jane?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes, go ahead, Brian.
CLAYPOOL: Yes, Jane, what`s important here, too, you heard this deputy on previously. He said, quote, "We have surveillance video with Matthews
[SIC] in the car with Hannah Graham." He`s the last guy leaving with Hannah Graham. Now, if these cops had that surveillance video before he
went into that police station, then there`s no excuse at that time for him to leave that police station.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: No. No, let me explain.
PARCO: I agree with -- you`re right.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: They had this surveillance video. They had this surveillance video. Then they have witnesses who showed them having a
drink at a local restaurant, and they believe that he got in the car. And they said they have every reason to believe that she got in the car, but
they do not have video of her getting into his car. What they do have is video of him following her and then witnesses saying they had drinks. So
who said "I agree"? Continue on.
PARCO: Me, Vinny. I said I agree.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: OK, Vinny.
GREENBURG: Jane -- Jane, with all due -- Jane...
PARCO: They had probable cause at that moment. With those videos and whatever else they have, they have enough to keep him as a -- at least a
material witness.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, now different people --
GREENBURG: Wait, wait, wait, Jane, Jane...
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Hold on. Steve Greenburg -- hold on. Hold on. Steve, go ahead.
GREENBURG: With -- with all due respect to these other people, one of whom at least claims to be a criminal defense lawyer, probable cause for what?
You have someone leaving somewhere with a young lady. The young lady can`t be found. What is that probable cause to hold anybody? How does that
point the finger at anybody? Because he was the last one seen with her they`re supposed to hold him?
CLAYPOOL: That`s -- that`s exactly right.
GREENBURG: That`s absolutely absurd.
CLAYPOOL: You find a reason.
BLOOM: That`s not the way it works. You don`t find a reason.
GREENBURG: That`s not the way it works.
(CROSSTALK)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: One at a time. One at a time. All right. But let me bring in Enrico here. This...
GREENBURG: ... people in prison to hold them and sweat them.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right, let me -- hold on a second, guys. Remember, this woman is missing, and there is a very good possibility, and I pray to
God that she is alive. We saw it with Ariel Castro and the three women that he kept in the Cleveland house of horrors. We saw it with Elizabeth
Smart, who was abducted and turned up quite a while later.
So this is a race against time. This isn`t some hypothetical legal issue. This is a race against time to find a person who might still be alive.
Does that change the equation at all? Hold on...
GREENBURG: No, because people have rights.
MARTIN: Jane -- no, no, Jane. Just because this woman is missing doesn`t give law enforcement the right to trample on someone`s constitutional
rights.
CLAYPOOL: Oh, please.
MARTIN: My heart goes out to this young woman and her family, just like everyone else`s.
CLAYPOOL: Please.
MARTIN: But this man has rights. And, you know, he could be afraid. He could be, you know, fearful of what`s going to happen to him. They know
where his family is. I`d like his family to come forth and maybe shed some light on this. But we don`t get to vilify, prosecute, and persecute him
because this young woman is missing.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: OK, guys. Hold on a second.
MARTIN: He has rights, and a whole lot of people don`t want to respect those.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: The phones are lighting up. Nancy, Pennsylvania. Nancy, Pennsylvania, what do you have to say?
CALLER: Hi, Jane. First of all, my heart goes out to this family. I can`t imagine what horrors that they`re going through.
The other thing is, I think we owe a lot of kudos and credit to the witness that saw this man following her, and surely there are other people out
there that saw something. And I believe in a few days when all the evidence is in, they`re going to find out where she is, and I do pray that
she`s alive. I think the police are doing a great job.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, let me clarify something, ma`am, and I appreciate, Nancy, Pennsylvania, you calling. But indeed, the man who was following --
somebody who was following Hannah said that he saw her with a man who had shaved head, an African-American with a shaved head and a goatee and long
pants. This man that is now being sought has dread locks and was wearing shorts. You can see if you see the surveillance video. Two totally
different descriptions.
So we`ve got to take a break. But I just want to get your comment on that, Areva Martin.
Areva.
MARTIN: I`m sorry. I thought we were taking a break. My comment is all the more reason we can`t trample on his constitutional rights, because the
witness has given inconsistencies about the description of the man. We don`t even know if this the right guy. He`s not bald. He`s not wearing
the clothes that the witness said he was wearing. We have to be careful before we prosecute this man without having enough evidence.
CLAYPOOL: In station trumps civil rights.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. We`re going to come back in a second. It`s a very, very passionate subject. Our heart goes out to the family, but this
is a mystery. Beyond everything, it`s a mystery. What happened to Hannah Graham? Stay right there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN GRAHAM, HANNAH`S FATHER: Did you see Hannah? Did anybody see Hannah? Did you see Hannah? Did you see Hannah? Who saw Hannah? Somebody did.
Please, please, please if you have anything, however insignificant you think it may be, call the police tip line with anything that just might
help us to bring Hannah home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Tonight on the "Naked Truth", they call him the "kissing congressman" ever since the married father of five was caught on
surveillance video making out, locking lips with a female aide. Now Louisiana congressman Vance McAllister is running for reelection and he
wants voters to know that he`s blessed to have a devoted wife who is standing by him despite this kissing scandal even though he cheated on her
by at least kissing another woman.
Check out this guy`s brand-new campaign ad from YouTube.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. VANCE MCALLISTER (R), LOUSIANA: Life is filled with ups and downs.
KELLY MCALLISTER, WIFE OF VANCE MCALLISTER: But a man`s character is based on how many times he gets back up and stands again.
V. MCALLISTER: I`m lucky to have been blessed with a great family and a wonderful Christian wife.
K. MCALLISTER: And I`m blessed to have a husband who owns up to his mistakes, never gives up, always fighting for the good people of Louisiana.
V. MCALLISTER: I`m Vance McAllister.
K. MCALLISTER: And I`m Kelly McAllister.
V. MCALLISTER: And we approve this message because some things are just worth fighting for.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That`s McAllister, conservative veteran, 100 percent Louisiana.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: The mistake McAllister is referring to, he and his wife, is him passionately locking lips with another woman, a staffer that worked
beneath him, so to speak, despite presenting himself as an old-fashioned family man to the public. This happened about six months ago, but now the
married couple says they decided to forgive and forget. Well, she`s the only one that needs to forgive, but they`re asking the voters to do the
same in the upcoming elections.
Straight out to our "Naked Truth" debate panel -- I`m going to start with Lisa Bloom. I have a feeling you might be en fuego about this. A
brilliant campaign move or is this just the ultimate hypocrisy and contempt for the voters?
BLOOM: It is disgusting. I mean what`s worst than making out with a young female staffer in an elevator when there`s obviously a video? Do people
not know there are video cameras in elevators, by the way?
You know what`s worse, it`s getting your wife to be a door mat in the campaign ads to say he got knocked down, he got back up again. He didn`t
get knocked down. Nobody punched him. He brought himself down.
CLAYPOOL: Welcome to the world, Lisa.
(CROSSTALK)
BLOOM: Don`t drag your wife into it. Be a man, own up to your mistakes.
CLAYPOOL: Welcome to the real world
BLOOM: Don`t humiliate your wife on camera.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: What do you mean welcome to the real world?
CLAYPOOL: Welcome to the real world.
MARTIN: No Jane. No, Jane.
CLAYPOOL: Welcome to the real world. People have trouble, they have faults.
MARTIN: Why do you (inaudible) Lisa, she`s a doormat.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: One at a time.
MARTIN: She`s an educated woman. She can make her own decisions. If she wants to forgive her husband and stand up for him in a campaign -- if you
don`t like him, don`t vote for him.
BLOOM: Oh please.
MARTIN: But I take offense at you calling her a door mat. She has as much to gain for being a congressman`s wife as he does for being a congressman.
She`s making a choice.
BLOOM: No she doesn`t.
CLAYPOOL: Hey Jane.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Hold on a second.
(CROSSTALK)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: One at a time. Let`s let the guys talk for a second. Go ahead, Brian Claypool.
CLAYPOOL: Jane, the goal here, remember, in the ad --
VELEZ-MITCHELL: To get reelected.
CLAYPOOL: -- is to appeal to voters. It`s a Christian couple and most Christian folks can address the issue of people having problems. They
stumble. The whole tenet of being a Christian is forgiveness. So he`s doing exactly that through the ad. She`s supporting that. And I think
it`s a brilliant move and Christian voters will receive it well.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: You know what -- here`s the thing that bugs me. The aide who was on the receiving end of the lip lock immediately resigned. This
guy reportedly said, "Well I`m not going to seek reelection." And then oops, he changes his mind, Lisa Bloom. And now they have come out with
this.
And you know, I`m going to show you an ad from before the scandal where -- and I understand this is a first term republican running for his first
reelection -- but when he originally ran, he was promoting his strong family values. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
V. MCALLISTER: Where I come from, we aren`t scared of a hard day`s work. And the values we live by are faith, family and country. That`s how I
built my businesses and how my wife and I are raising our children here in Louisiana.
I sure don`t want to spend my time in Washington, D.C. away from my family and the state I love so much. But I simply cannot stand by while the
liberals of Washington run our great country into the ground.
I`m Vance McAllister, business owner, family man and proud son of this community.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Ok. Now when you run on family values, the problem is when you use family values and you use your family to sell yourself as a
candidate and then you make out with a woman who`s not your wife, that`s your subordinate who resigns the next day or soon thereafter but you decide
to run for reelection -- that becomes an issue. All right.
BLOOM: Absolutely.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: And I`m going to throw that at Areva Martin -- that`s an issue.
MARTIN: Then don`t vote for him. If we`re going to throw these guys out of office because they run on one thing and they do something else, well,
we better start cleaning the entire congress and senate.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I agree.
MARTIN: Because this --
(CROSSTALK)
MARTIN: -- having affairs in congress, outside of congress. And I think we have to be consistent here. This woman wants to support him. Now, I
don`t support him for a lot of different reasons. So I`m not advocating for this guy to win this election. But I am advocating for his wife to do
just what she did. It`s to say she supports her husband --
BLOOM: Ok, but Jane --
MARTIN: -- and she`s standing by his side. Hillary did and we love Hillary. So let that woman support her husband.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Lisa Bloom.
BLOOM: Ok. Jane, listen, what about respect for women? Why is it that the woman always has to lose her job after incidents like this when we`re
talking about two consenting adults?
MARTIN: That`s an issue.
BLOOM: So why does the young woman have to lose her job? Why does the congressman`s wife have to suck it up? Why doesn`t he suffer any
consequences for his bad choices?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. Let`s go to YackieJackie. Jackie Taurianen, she`s in her hashtag hub and she`s hearing what folks are saying because
they are en fuego about this. Yes -- Jackie.
JACKIE TAURIANEN, HLN PRODUCER: Jane, you are absolutely right. People are fired up. I`ve been particularly following our Facebook comments today
and let me tell you, there are some really crazy ones out there.
Some of the ones that I can actually report are -- take Ruth, for example. She`s one-sided. She said, "This really isn`t anyone`s business. They`re
married. If she`s forgiven him, why should anyone else care? Don`t like it. Don`t vote for him."
Sadly the overwhelming majority are actually attacking his wife in this, which I`ll let your debate panel go ahead and analyze a little bit. But
let`s begin.
Terry says, "There will likely be a divorce in their near future. Millions go to these political campaigns. I think these women say whatever they are
told for money."
Chris says "I think it is ridiculous she stood by him. Just my opinion."
And Rosemarie actually said, "My, oh, my, what we will do for fame and money. This woman is making a fool of herself."
So I`ll leave that to you guys to analyze but she`s being attacked in this. And it`s very upsetting.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Let`s go to the phone lines. Thank you YackieJackie.
Delores, Rhode Island -- what do you have to say?
DELORES, RHODE ISLAND (via telephone): I think he`s just like the rest of them. They all do it, and I predict three or four months and they`ll be
divorced afterwards.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: You think that he -- do you think he`s going to win his reelection bid?
DELORES: Maybe. Probably because he`s Christian and the people believe all that hoopla.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, let`s not make sweeping generalizations. But before -- I want to continue the debate -- but let`s watch again the new ad and
listen. And as you listen, think about some of the women who have, despite everything, stood by their men.
Check it out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
V. MCALLISTER: Life is filled with ups and downs.
K. MCALLISTER: But a man`s character is based on how many times he gets back up and stands again.
V. MCALLISTER: I`m lucky to have been blessed with a great family and a wonderful Christian wife.
K. MCALLISTER: And I`m blessed to have a husband who owns up to his mistakes, never gives up --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I`m just wondering why she made that decision. Why she made the decision to stick with him. Not just stick with him but to say
I`ll stay married to you. But --
CLAYPOOL: Hey, Jane -- I know why. Jane --
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I`m going to appear in your campaign ad even though you were kissing another woman and I`m married to you.
CLAYPOOL: They have children.
(CROSSTALK)
CLAYPOOL: Jane, they have children. They have a family.
MARTIN: Jane he`s her husband.
BLOOM: Why did she have to be the one to apologize for his behavior? Let`s hear him apologize.
MARTIN: She loves her husband. How many women stay with men that cheat on them? I`ve been married 20 years. You don`t just toss your husband aside
because of indiscretions. Some women decide to --
(CROSSTALK)
BLOOM: He is a congressman --
VELEZ-MITCHELL: One at a time. One at a time, guys.
(CROSSTALK)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Guys and gals, one at a time.
Listen, here`s the thing. They also said that they went through counseling, he and his wife. And to me, that was odd because it implies
that maybe she also needs to look at herself as to why he cheated. Now to me that says once again, he`s basically putting it on her. You know,
there`s something called co-dependency where it`s like you`re addicted to the person and you clean up and you rationalize and you minimize everything
they do. The classic case -- and I` not calling him an alcoholic -- he`s not to my knowledge. But you know, it`s the wife, the long suffering wife
who cleans up after her alcoholic husband. But co-dependents -- co- dependents come in many forms. I`m curious as to why -- I understand why she might want to say married to him -- but why is she leading his
reelection battle by appearing in his ads saying basically, I forgive and I forget. Vote for this guy. That`s what I want to know.
Steve Greenberg --
BLOOM: Yes. And Jane --
CLAYPOOL: The same reason Ray Rice`s wife is doing the same thing.
GREENBERG: Yes -- because they like the lifestyle, probably.
CLAYPOOL: That`s right.
GREENBERG: I don`t think that it`s proper for us to be here -- that`s what I haven`t chimed in. I don`t think we should second-guess what they`re
doing.
BLOOM: They put out a campaign ad.
GREENBERG: You can vote for them or not vote for them. You can praise her or not praise. We are doing it. If they vote for him, he`s a hypocrite.
Perfect, he`s in congress. He`s in Congress. That`s where hypocrites go.
MARTIN: Don`t vote for him.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: You know what -- it`s because he`s in Congress, that`s precisely why we have not only the right, but the obligation to look at
these issues. It`s a campaign ad. We`re not reading a private journal. This was an ad that was broadcast on television. A huge media bomb.
GREENBERG: That`s why I was taking the Fifth.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right guys.
Another controversy coming up, a superstar on the field charged with domestic violence and this time it involves soccer star Hope Solo. Is she
getting special treatment that male athletes are not?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When officers arrived, they could hear the fight going on inside. That`s where they found Solo. She appeared to be drunk
and investigators believe she assaulted her 17-year-old nephew and her sister.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Here`s another "Naked Truth". Another famous athlete under fire after being arrested for alleged domestic violence. Star soccer
goalie, Hope Solo arrested in June after a brawl broke out at a family party. Her 17-year-old nephew claimed she socked him in the face during an
argument, then attacked his mother, Hope`s half-sister when that woman tried to intervene.
When cops got to the scene, they claim Hope appeared intoxicated and upset. And another disturbing part, Hope`s nephew reportedly told cops, she always
does this.
Hope is facing two pending misdemeanor assault charges. She`s going to be tried in November. Now Hope`s played on two gold medal-winning Olympic
teams. Just last week, she extended her shutout record to 73 when the U.S. women`s team beat Mexico. But some people are upset she was even allowed
to play. Many are looking Ray Rice and saying well, look, he was suspended. She should be suspended too.
So straight out to our "Naked Truth" debate panel, Areva Martin, is there a double standard here? Should Hope Solo have been suspended?
MARTIN: Hope must face some consequences. She has to be held accountable, Jane. I`ve been all over television talking about the NFL, the scandals
and holding professional athletes accountable. And Hope is no different. We can`t say as women that we want men to be held accountable for domestic
violence but somehow women have a different standard.
There`s a kid involved here, a minor that allegedly was struck. So I think there has to be some accountability for Hope, just like there has to be for
all the men that we`ve been talking about for the last couple of weeks in the NFL.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Sell, Steve Greenberg, I read a quote in the Atlantic. It says quote, "There`s a reason why we call it the violence against women
act, not the brawling with families act." The point was that most domestic violence is perpetrated by men against women. That this is kind of an
aberration.
GREENBERG: It is an aberration. What I don`t like is the idea that people should get suspended just because they get charged. There`s a process.
Let it play out. People have certain rights. And in these domestic situations, most of the time you find out there`s alcohol involved, there`s
mutual combat many of the times.
MARTIN: So what?
GREENBERG: Everybody was drunk. Wait and see what happens. Let the legal process play out.
BLOOM: No.
GREENBERG: If she is acquitted on this.
CLAYPOOL: She`s going to trial.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Hold on. Lisa Bloom. One at a time.
BLOOM: I absolutely disagree. And I`ll tell you why.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Hold on. Go ahead, Lisa.
BLOOM: I`ll tell you why. Areva is right. Race and gender don`t matter. You`re a professional athlete. You`re supposed to be a role model. You
have a code of conduct. If there`s a credible allegation of domestic violence, you should be suspended. You still get paid while the system
plays out.
The root problem is that system is terrible. People just get a slap on the wrist for domestic violence if they`re a celebrity or they`re wealthy.
They get nothing. They get pre-trial diversions and the whole thing gets wiped clean.
(CROSSTALK)
GREENBERG: Who is -- Lisa, who decides if it`s credible -- if it`s a credible allegation?
MARTIN: You can decide that --
GREENBERG: How is that decision --
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Hold on.
BLOOM: I`ll tell you who decides.
(CROSSTALK)
MARTIN: You don`t have to wait --
BLOOM: There`s a video tape.
GREENBERG: If there`s a videotape maybe but --
VM: You know, that was Hope Solo on "Dancing with the Stars". Yes.
The difference in this case is that with Ray Rice there was a videotape in the elevator. We`ve all seen it. With Adrian Peterson, there were photos
that came along with the accusations of child abuse.
BLOOM: But Jane --
VELEZ-MITCHELL: In this case, there is no visual evidence of that nature that we see in this --
(CROSSTALK)
CLAYPOOL: Jane --
MARTIN: You don`t have to tie the penalty to a criminal prosecution.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. Guys.
MARTIN: You don`t have to tie the penalty for athletes to a criminal prosecution. We know prosecution happens differently all over this
country, in every county the prosecution looks differently. So athletes don`t have to be held to a criminal. If on our job we hit someone, we can
be suspended and terminated and it not be raised to the level of a crime. We don`t have to tie the conduct to crime.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Quick break, we`re going to be back with more. And your calls.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: "Dancing with the Stars" contestant U.S. soccer goalkeeper Hope Solo accused of two counts of misdemeanor domestic violence. She
pleaded not guilty. You know, it`s really hard for me to say this because I was there to support Nancy Grace and I saw Hope Solo and I said, "You
rock."
But I do feel it has to be across the board. We can`t make exceptions based on gender. Yackie Jackie, quickly, what are they saying?
TAURIANEN: Yes, Jane.
We have Anil here saying, "Violence is violence. All gender should have absolutely equal rights and face the same penalties."
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I agree. And so we`ve got to make it absolutely intolerable, domestic violence, any of it, by anybody to anybody has to end
and the way you do that is by not making special exceptions for anybody because of gender. Sorry, Hope because I am a fan but, uh-uh.
Nancy next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
